Itanagar: The Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) district administration has allegedly issued a rebuttal to the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee (PAJSC), which has been seeking permission to hold a ‘sit-in-dharna’ concerning the infamous APPSC cash-for-job scam.
This was on Thursday informed by PAJSC vice chairman, Tadak Nalo, who said that the committee has diligently pursued permission from the deputy commissioner’s office for the past two weeks. However, DC Talo Potom has been “evasive and citing various excuses”.
Nalo revealed that the DC initially directed the committee to seek permission exclusively from the chief secretary and principal secretary of the home department.
In compliance, the PAJSC members subsequently met both the officials.
“To our dismay, the chief secretary asserted that the DC is the sole authority for granting permission and even summoned the DC to his office to reiterate this point. This situation strongly suggests that the DC is deliberately withholding permission, possibly due to pressure from higher government officials, as claimed by the DC, or other undisclosed motivations,” Nalo said.
The PAJSC leader said the APPSC cash-for-job scandal is an issue of significant concern for the entire state’s population and they will continue to approach the DC’s office for permission until it is granted.
“We have the right to stage a peaceful dharna. Moreover, we also ensure to abide by the law of the land and are ready to sign any undertaking if needed. We are against ‘bandh calls’ and we also do not endorse it,” he added.
Regarding the progress of their 13-point demands, Nalo refuted chief minister Pema Khandu’s claim that the state government has met all the demands.
“Following the CM’s directive, the PAJSC members met with the chief secretary, who disavowed any knowledge of the matter and suggested that they consult the competent authority for clarification,” Nalo said.
DC Reacts
Meanwhile, responding to the claims of the PAJSC, DC Potom said that his office has some rules to be followed, which concern the public or an individual seeking permission for an indefinite dharna therefore, he has asked the committee members to seek a no objection certification (NOC) from the Capital SP office.
The NOC, according to the DC, is to ensure sufficient deployment of force during the dharna.
“The SP office has given authorization only for one day and the district administration cannot breach the direction. Who will be held responsible if I give the permit for an indefinite dharna and something goes wrong during that time,” he questioned.
Potom said he had earlier issued permission to the PAJSC to stage a peaceful dharna for 4 days but the same was reduced to 3 following correspondence with the state government.
“Now, it is compulsory for anyone to obtain NOC from the police department for any kind of dharna exceeding more than a day,” he said.
Potom further said that he has also issued a written letter to the PAJSC stating that the DC does not have discretionary powers to grant permission for any kind of dharna and protest.
“One should know that the administration has a major responsibility to ensure the law and order is in place and the health of the protestors do not deteriorate during indefinite protests. Moreover, if anyone obtains NOC from the police for the dharna, the DC’s office will grant permission to them,” Potom added.
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